American Corner Karaganda had an English speaking club dedicated to the National Symbols of Kazakhstan. Olga Volkova CC program alumni conducted the meeting. Participants spoke about Kazakhstan, its national symbols, what is their origin and history.
Symbols are drawings, signs or words that have a particular importance for a group of people. Symbols have existed since ancient times. Flags, emblems,logos were identifying marks of kin or tribe.
National Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan
National Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a piece of right-angled cloth of sky-blue colour with a picture of a golden sun with its 32 rays in the centre, with a soaring steppe eagle beneath. Flagstaff has vertical line with national ornament. The picture of sun, its rays, eagle and ornament are of golden colour. Width/length ratio of the flag is 1:2.
National Emblem of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The central element comprising the main concept of the National Emblem of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a picture of a shanyrak (the cupola of a yurta) o, from which uyks (body bracket) like sun rays are being radiated in framing of wings of mythical horses. The image of a shanyrak in the National Emblem of the Republic of Kazakhstan implies an image of a common house of all people living in Kazakhstan. The happiness there depends on welfare of everyone, just like the strength of shanyrak depends on reliability of its uyks (body brackets).
The Anthem serves as an important sound symbol with a key value for the effective socio-political consolidation and ethnocultural identification of citizens of the country. In the history of sovereign Kazakhstan the national anthem was adopted two times: in 1992 and 2006.
The new State Anthem was adopted in 2006 in order to promote the country’s sound symbolism. It is based on the patriotic song “Menyn Kazakhstanym” (My Kazakhstan) which is popular among the people and written in 1956, with music by Shamshi Kaldayakov and lyrics by Zhumeken Nazhimedenov. President Nursultan Nazarbayev modified the original lyrics of the song. The corresponding amendments have been introduced to the Decree “On State Symbols” at the joint session of the Houses of Parliament on January 6, 2006 and the Parliament approved it as a new State Anthem of Kazakhstan. As an independent state, The Republic of Kazakhstan had adopted its state symbols-Flag, Emblem and Anthem.